Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954)
Tue 20 Dec 1887
NORTHERN MAIL NEWS.
MACKAY.
The Standard gives the following account of the accident that took place on Tuesday last at the landing of the excursionists from Port Newry:- "The run up the river occupied just an hour, and at eight o'clock Captain Adrian let go the anchor off the end of the A.U.S.N. Company's wharf that the vessel might swing round to the tide and come alongside the wharf. When about three parts swung, however, her heel caught the ground, and being of lighter draft forward than aft, the tide caught her bow and she dragged her anchor.
The current running very strongly at this time, Captain Adrian put out a stern rope to hold the vessel in position as she had drifted close to the bridge, and in this position he continued to hold her until there was enough water to float her heel. Just as the vessel got afloat, the stern rope parted, and she swung to her anchor, in swinging, however, the stern glanced along the wharf, and as she did this, some one without orders put another rope out over the tafrail between the awning stanchions on the port quarter and while she was close in, it was made fast to a pile.
The captain had not perceived this movement, but when he saw what had been done, he at once sang out to let go the rope, when somebody replied that it was fast, and Mr. J. B. Drane, who was on the forcastle, where the rope was coiled at the time, in attempting to release it, got his foot entangled and fell heavily to the main deck.
The first officer, seeing what had happened, ran to his assistance, and on picking him up, it was found that his leg was broken just above the ankle. The rope, a 3 inch one, being between the awning stanchions and not being made fast through the half round, then gradually tightened round the stanchions with the swinging of the vessel, until the strain was so great that it swept the whole poop, breaking the after rail and breaking and bending the stanchions.
In the meantime a seaman named Campbell assisted by Mr. Mackay, of the Mackay Foundry, was endeavouring to cut the rope, when it parted, striking Campbell across the left side of the head and face, and killing him instantaneously. An old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Holland, who were sitting in the centre of a square on the poop formed on two sides by forms and at the ends by the skylight and companion, must have also been struck, though in what way is unknown, as the forward end of the awning ridge remained in its place, while the other end fell on the skylight, leaving the place where they were sitting untouched. When things righted themselves, however, the old lady was found to be quite dead, although the only mark about her was a slight abrasion on the head, quite insufficient in itself to cause death. It is therefore assumed that her death was caused by shock to the system. The old gentleman, her husband, also received a slight wound on the forehead, but was otherwise uninjured.
Several other persons were also slightly bruised, but beyond the casualties already mentioned, nobody else was seriously injured. A large crowd had by this time assembled on the wharf, and on making fast alongside Dr. Humphrey was already on the spot, and having examined the unfortunate man Campbell and Mrs. Holland, he pronounced them to be both quite dead. He then set Mr. Drane's leg and had him immediately conveyed to the hospital.
This unfortunate termination, to what in any case was far from a pleasant holiday, cast a gloom over the passengers on board, and in fact when the affair became known, over the whole town. No blame can possibly be attached to Captain Adrian who is well-known to be a most careful and efficient officer, and moreover, several times warned the passengers to keep away from the ropes. The sole cause of the accident must be attributed to the putting out of the second stern rope without the orders of either the captain or his mate, the captain, consequently, handling his vessel without taking this rope into account. Taking everything into consideration the 12th of December will be a day long to be remembered and regretted by those who took part in the Gunga excursion.
Contributor: Anonymous (49965134)
Tue 20 Dec 1887
NORTHERN MAIL NEWS.
MACKAY.
The Standard gives the following account of the accident that took place on Tuesday last at the landing of the excursionists from Port Newry:- "The run up the river occupied just an hour, and at eight o'clock Captain Adrian let go the anchor off the end of the A.U.S.N. Company's wharf that the vessel might swing round to the tide and come alongside the wharf. When about three parts swung, however, her heel caught the ground, and being of lighter draft forward than aft, the tide caught her bow and she dragged her anchor.
The current running very strongly at this time, Captain Adrian put out a stern rope to hold the vessel in position as she had drifted close to the bridge, and in this position he continued to hold her until there was enough water to float her heel. Just as the vessel got afloat, the stern rope parted, and she swung to her anchor, in swinging, however, the stern glanced along the wharf, and as she did this, some one without orders put another rope out over the tafrail between the awning stanchions on the port quarter and while she was close in, it was made fast to a pile.
The captain had not perceived this movement, but when he saw what had been done, he at once sang out to let go the rope, when somebody replied that it was fast, and Mr. J. B. Drane, who was on the forcastle, where the rope was coiled at the time, in attempting to release it, got his foot entangled and fell heavily to the main deck.
The first officer, seeing what had happened, ran to his assistance, and on picking him up, it was found that his leg was broken just above the ankle. The rope, a 3 inch one, being between the awning stanchions and not being made fast through the half round, then gradually tightened round the stanchions with the swinging of the vessel, until the strain was so great that it swept the whole poop, breaking the after rail and breaking and bending the stanchions.
In the meantime a seaman named Campbell assisted by Mr. Mackay, of the Mackay Foundry, was endeavouring to cut the rope, when it parted, striking Campbell across the left side of the head and face, and killing him instantaneously. An old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Holland, who were sitting in the centre of a square on the poop formed on two sides by forms and at the ends by the skylight and companion, must have also been struck, though in what way is unknown, as the forward end of the awning ridge remained in its place, while the other end fell on the skylight, leaving the place where they were sitting untouched. When things righted themselves, however, the old lady was found to be quite dead, although the only mark about her was a slight abrasion on the head, quite insufficient in itself to cause death. It is therefore assumed that her death was caused by shock to the system. The old gentleman, her husband, also received a slight wound on the forehead, but was otherwise uninjured.
Several other persons were also slightly bruised, but beyond the casualties already mentioned, nobody else was seriously injured. A large crowd had by this time assembled on the wharf, and on making fast alongside Dr. Humphrey was already on the spot, and having examined the unfortunate man Campbell and Mrs. Holland, he pronounced them to be both quite dead. He then set Mr. Drane's leg and had him immediately conveyed to the hospital.
This unfortunate termination, to what in any case was far from a pleasant holiday, cast a gloom over the passengers on board, and in fact when the affair became known, over the whole town. No blame can possibly be attached to Captain Adrian who is well-known to be a most careful and efficient officer, and moreover, several times warned the passengers to keep away from the ropes. The sole cause of the accident must be attributed to the putting out of the second stern rope without the orders of either the captain or his mate, the captain, consequently, handling his vessel without taking this rope into account. Taking everything into consideration the 12th of December will be a day long to be remembered and regretted by those who took part in the Gunga excursion.
Contributor: Anonymous (49965134)
Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954)
Tue 20 Dec 1887
NORTHERN MAIL NEWS.
MACKAY.
The Standard gives the following account of the accident that took place on Tuesday last at the landing of the excursionists from Port Newry:- "The run up the river occupied just an hour, and at eight o'clock Captain Adrian let go the anchor off the end of the A.U.S.N. Company's wharf that the vessel might swing round to the tide and come alongside the wharf. When about three parts swung, however, her heel caught the ground, and being of lighter draft forward than aft, the tide caught her bow and she dragged her anchor.
The current running very strongly at this time, Captain Adrian put out a stern rope to hold the vessel in position as she had drifted close to the bridge, and in this position he continued to hold her until there was enough water to float her heel. Just as the vessel got afloat, the stern rope parted, and she swung to her anchor, in swinging, however, the stern glanced along the wharf, and as she did this, some one without orders put another rope out over the tafrail between the awning stanchions on the port quarter and while she was close in, it was made fast to a pile.
The captain had not perceived this movement, but when he saw what had been done, he at once sang out to let go the rope, when somebody replied that it was fast, and Mr. J. B. Drane, who was on the forcastle, where the rope was coiled at the time, in attempting to release it, got his foot entangled and fell heavily to the main deck.
The first officer, seeing what had happened, ran to his assistance, and on picking him up, it was found that his leg was broken just above the ankle. The rope, a 3 inch one, being between the awning stanchions and not being made fast through the half round, then gradually tightened round the stanchions with the swinging of the vessel, until the strain was so great that it swept the whole poop, breaking the after rail and breaking and bending the stanchions.
In the meantime a seaman named Campbell assisted by Mr. Mackay, of the Mackay Foundry, was endeavouring to cut the rope, when it parted, striking Campbell across the left side of the head and face, and killing him instantaneously. An old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Holland, who were sitting in the centre of a square on the poop formed on two sides by forms and at the ends by the skylight and companion, must have also been struck, though in what way is unknown, as the forward end of the awning ridge remained in its place, while the other end fell on the skylight, leaving the place where they were sitting untouched. When things righted themselves, however, the old lady was found to be quite dead, although the only mark about her was a slight abrasion on the head, quite insufficient in itself to cause death. It is therefore assumed that her death was caused by shock to the system. The old gentleman, her husband, also received a slight wound on the forehead, but was otherwise uninjured.
Several other persons were also slightly bruised, but beyond the casualties already mentioned, nobody else was seriously injured. A large crowd had by this time assembled on the wharf, and on making fast alongside Dr. Humphrey was already on the spot, and having examined the unfortunate man Campbell and Mrs. Holland, he pronounced them to be both quite dead. He then set Mr. Drane's leg and had him immediately conveyed to the hospital.
This unfortunate termination, to what in any case was far from a pleasant holiday, cast a gloom over the passengers on board, and in fact when the affair became known, over the whole town. No blame can possibly be attached to Captain Adrian who is well-known to be a most careful and efficient officer, and moreover, several times warned the passengers to keep away from the ropes. The sole cause of the accident must be attributed to the putting out of the second stern rope without the orders of either the captain or his mate, the captain, consequently, handling his vessel without taking this rope into account. Taking everything into consideration the 12th of December will be a day long to be remembered and regretted by those who took part in the Gunga excursion.
Contributor: Anonymous (49965134)
Tue 20 Dec 1887
NORTHERN MAIL NEWS.
MACKAY.
The Standard gives the following account of the accident that took place on Tuesday last at the landing of the excursionists from Port Newry:- "The run up the river occupied just an hour, and at eight o'clock Captain Adrian let go the anchor off the end of the A.U.S.N. Company's wharf that the vessel might swing round to the tide and come alongside the wharf. When about three parts swung, however, her heel caught the ground, and being of lighter draft forward than aft, the tide caught her bow and she dragged her anchor.
The current running very strongly at this time, Captain Adrian put out a stern rope to hold the vessel in position as she had drifted close to the bridge, and in this position he continued to hold her until there was enough water to float her heel. Just as the vessel got afloat, the stern rope parted, and she swung to her anchor, in swinging, however, the stern glanced along the wharf, and as she did this, some one without orders put another rope out over the tafrail between the awning stanchions on the port quarter and while she was close in, it was made fast to a pile.
The captain had not perceived this movement, but when he saw what had been done, he at once sang out to let go the rope, when somebody replied that it was fast, and Mr. J. B. Drane, who was on the forcastle, where the rope was coiled at the time, in attempting to release it, got his foot entangled and fell heavily to the main deck.
The first officer, seeing what had happened, ran to his assistance, and on picking him up, it was found that his leg was broken just above the ankle. The rope, a 3 inch one, being between the awning stanchions and not being made fast through the half round, then gradually tightened round the stanchions with the swinging of the vessel, until the strain was so great that it swept the whole poop, breaking the after rail and breaking and bending the stanchions.
In the meantime a seaman named Campbell assisted by Mr. Mackay, of the Mackay Foundry, was endeavouring to cut the rope, when it parted, striking Campbell across the left side of the head and face, and killing him instantaneously. An old couple, Mr. and Mrs. Holland, who were sitting in the centre of a square on the poop formed on two sides by forms and at the ends by the skylight and companion, must have also been struck, though in what way is unknown, as the forward end of the awning ridge remained in its place, while the other end fell on the skylight, leaving the place where they were sitting untouched. When things righted themselves, however, the old lady was found to be quite dead, although the only mark about her was a slight abrasion on the head, quite insufficient in itself to cause death. It is therefore assumed that her death was caused by shock to the system. The old gentleman, her husband, also received a slight wound on the forehead, but was otherwise uninjured.
Several other persons were also slightly bruised, but beyond the casualties already mentioned, nobody else was seriously injured. A large crowd had by this time assembled on the wharf, and on making fast alongside Dr. Humphrey was already on the spot, and having examined the unfortunate man Campbell and Mrs. Holland, he pronounced them to be both quite dead. He then set Mr. Drane's leg and had him immediately conveyed to the hospital.
This unfortunate termination, to what in any case was far from a pleasant holiday, cast a gloom over the passengers on board, and in fact when the affair became known, over the whole town. No blame can possibly be attached to Captain Adrian who is well-known to be a most careful and efficient officer, and moreover, several times warned the passengers to keep away from the ropes. The sole cause of the accident must be attributed to the putting out of the second stern rope without the orders of either the captain or his mate, the captain, consequently, handling his vessel without taking this rope into account. Taking everything into consideration the 12th of December will be a day long to be remembered and regretted by those who took part in the Gunga excursion.
Contributor: Anonymous (49965134)
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